PIO-96

ISA Bus Digital I/O Board

Instruction Manual
 WARRANTY
Hardware
Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment (3 years for Models 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2010), the Kei-
thley Hardware product will be free from defects in materials or workmanship. This warranty will be honored provided the defect has not been caused by
use of the Keithley Hardware not in accordance with the instructions for the product. This warranty shall be null and void upon: (1) any modification of
Keithley Hardware that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley or (2) operation of the Keithley Hardware outside of the
environmental specifications therefore.
Upon receiving notification of a defect in the Keithley Hardware during the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option, either repair or replace such Kei-
thley Hardware. During the first ninety days of the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option, supply the necessary on site labor to return the product to
the condition prior to the notification of a defect. Failure to notify Keithley of a defect during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and lia-
bilities under this warranty.

Other Hardware
The portion of the product that is not manufactured by Keithley (Other Hardware) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall have no duty of
obligation to enforce any manufacturers' warranties on behalf of the customer. On those other manufacturers’ products that Keithley purchases for resale,
Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers’ warranties on behalf of the customer.

Software
Keithley warrants that for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment, the Keithley produced portion of the software or firmware (Keithley Software) will
conform in all material respects with the published specifications provided such Keithley Software is used on the product for which it is intended and other-
wise in accordance with the instructions therefore. Keithley does not warrant that operation of the Keithley Software will be uninterrupted or error-free and/
or that the Keithley Software will be adequate for the customer's intended application and/or use. This warranty shall be null and void upon any modification
of the Keithley Software that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley.
If Keithley receives notification of a Keithley Software nonconformity that is covered by this warranty during the warranty period, Keithley will review the
conditions described in such notice. Such notice must state the published specification(s) to which the Keithley Software fails to conform and the manner
in which the Keithley Software fails to conform to such published specification(s) with sufficient specificity to permit Keithley to correct such nonconfor-
mity. If Keithley determines that the Keithley Software does not conform with the published specifications, Keithley will, at its option, provide either the
programming services necessary to correct such nonconformity or develop a program change to bypass such nonconformity in the Keithley Software.
Failure to notify Keithley of a nonconformity during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this warranty.

Other Software
OEM software that is not produced by Keithley (Other Software) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall have no duty or obligation to
enforce any OEM's warranties on behalf of the customer.

Other Items
Keithley warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries, diskettes, and documentation.

Items not Covered under Warranty

This warranty does not apply to fuses, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leakage, or problems arising from normal wear or failure to follow
instructions.

Limitation of Warranty
This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification made by Purchaser without Keithley's express written consent, or by misuse
of any product or part.

Disclaimer of Warranties
EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES ABOVE KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUD-
ING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. KEI-
THLEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER HARDWARE AND OTHER SOFTWARE.

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KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS SHALL IN NO EVENT, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OR BE LIABLE FOR: (1)
ECONOMICAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER CLAIMED
UNDER CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, (2) LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CUSTOMER'S DATA OR PROGRAM-
MING, OR (3) PENALTIES OR PENALTY CLAUSES OF ANY DESCRIPTION OR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMER OR OTHERS FOR
COSTS, DAMAGES, OR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY.

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 PIO-96
ISA Bus Digital I/O Board
User’s Manual

Windows and WindowsNT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

DriverLINX is a registered trademark of Scientific Software Tools, Inc.

©1993, Keithley Instruments, Inc.

All rights reserved.
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
Fourth Printing, December 1999
Document Number: 73270 Rev. D
 Manual Print History
The print history shown below lists the printing dates of all Revisions and Addenda created for this manual. The Revision
Level letter increases alphabetically as the manual undergoes subsequent updates. Addenda, which are released between Revi-
sions, contain important change information that the user should incorporate immediately into the manual. Addenda are num-
bered sequentially. When a new Revision is created, all Addenda associated with the previous Revision of the manual are
incorporated into the new Revision of the manual. Each new Revision includes a revised copy of this print history page.

Revision C (Document Number 24812) ..................................................................................................April 1993

Revision D (Document Number 73270) ..........................................................................................December 1999

All Keithley product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

The following safety precautions should be observed before using
this product and any associated instrumentation. Although some in-
struments and accessories would normally be used with non-haz-
ardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions
may be present.
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recog-
nize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions re-
quired to avoid possible injury. Read the operating information
carefully before using the product.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use
and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that the equipment is
operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for en-
suring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be
trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use of the instru-
ment. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with
hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product
to keep it operating, for example, setting the line voltage or replac-
ing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in
the manual. The procedures explicitly state if the operator may per-
form them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service
personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform
safe installations and repairs of products. Only properly trained ser-
vice personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal
voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or test fixtures. The
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock
hazard exists when voltage levels greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V
peak, or 60VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect
that hazardous voltage is present in any unknown circuit before
measuring.
Safety Precautions
Users of this product must be protected from electric shock at all
times. The responsible body must ensure that users are prevented
access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases,
connections must be exposed to potential human contact. Product
users in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves
from the risk of electric shock. If the circuit is capable of operating
at or above 1000 volts, no conductive part of the circuit may be
exposed.
As described in the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) Standard IEC 664, digital multimeter measuring circuits
(e.g., Keithley Models 175A, 199, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2010) are
Installation Category II. All other instruments’ signal terminals are
Installation Category I and must not be connected to mains.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits.
They are intended to be used with impedance limited sources.
NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When con-
necting sources to switching cards, install protective devices to lim-
it fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connect-
ed to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect the connecting
cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks
before each use.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any
other instruments while power is applied to the circuit under test.
ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge
any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting cables or jump-
ers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal
changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the
common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth) ground.
Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a
dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the voltage being
measured.
The instrument and accessories must be used in accordance with its
specifications and operating instructions or the safety of the equip-
ment may be impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and ac-
cessories, as defined in the specifications and operating informa-
tion, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or
switching card.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with same type and rating
for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for
measuring circuits, NOT as safety earth ground connections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is ap-
plied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use of a
lid interlock.
If a screw is present, connect it to safety earth ground using the
wire recommended in the user documentation.
The ! symbol on an instrument indicates that the user should re-
fer to the operating instructions located in the manual.
The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or mea-
sure 1000 volts or more, including the combined effect of normal
and common mode voltages. Use standard safety precautions to
avoid personal contact with these voltages.
The WARNING heading in a manual explains dangers that might
result in personal injury or death. Always read the associated infor-
mation very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The CAUTION heading in a manual explains hazards that could
damage the instrument. Such damage may invalidate the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and
all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement
components in mains circuits, including the power transformer, test
leads, and input jacks, must be purchased from Keithley Instru-
ments. Standard fuses, with applicable national safety approvals,
may be used if the rating and type are the same. Other components
that are not safety related may be purchased from other suppliers as
long as they are equivalent to the original component. (Note that se-
lected parts should be purchased only through Keithley Instruments
to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product.) If you are
unsure about the applicability of a replacement component, call a
Keithley Instruments office for information.
To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water based
cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do not apply
cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill
on the instrument. Products that consist of a circuit board with no
case or chassis (e.g., data acquisition board for installation into a
computer) should never require cleaning if handled according to in-
structions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is af-
fected, the board should be returned to the factory for proper
cleaning/servicing.
Rev. 10/99
 Table of Contents
1 General Description
The board ........................................................................................................................................................... 1-2
Supporting software ........................................................................................................................................... 1-3

2 Installation
Inventorying required installation resources ...................................................................................................... 2-2
Installing DriverLINX software and documentation ......................................................................................... 2-2
Configuring your installation ............................................................................................................................. 2-4
Preparing and installing your board ................................................................................................................... 2-5
Unpacking and inspecting the board .......................................................................................................... 2-5
Setting the base address switch .................................................................................................................. 2-5
Setting the wait-state jumper ...................................................................................................................... 2-6
Connecting cables to the board .................................................................................................................. 2-7
Installing the board ..................................................................................................................................... 2-7
Checking your installation ................................................................................................................................. 2-8
Wiring to external circuits .................................................................................................................................. 2-8
Identifying I/O connector pin numbers ...................................................................................................... 2-9
Using a screw terminal accessory .............................................................................................................. 2-9
Wiring PIO-96 power to external circuits ................................................................................................ 2-10

3 Programming

A Specifications
Logic inputs and outputs ................................................................................................................................... A-2
Power consumption ........................................................................................................................................... A-2
Mechanical and environmental ......................................................................................................................... A-2

B I/O Address Map

Data ports .......................................................................................................................................................... B-3
Control port ....................................................................................................................................................... B-3

C User-Serviceable Parts

i
ii
 List of Illustrations
2 Installation
Figure 2-1 Base address switch values ........................................................................................................................ 2-6
Figure 2-2 Board component locations ........................................................................................................................ 2-6
Figure 2-3 Pin assignments for a PIO-96 I/O connector and corresponding terminal assignments for a
connected STA-50 accessory .............................................................................................................. 2-9

iii
iv
 List of Tables
B I/O Address Map
Table B-1 I/O address map ........................................................................................................................................ B-2
Table B-2 Control register bit functions for each 8255 chip ...................................................................................... B-3
Table B-3 Example control bytes for mode 0 ............................................................................................................ B-4

v
vi
 1
General Description
1-2 General Description PIO-96 User’s Manual

The board
The PIO-96 board is a 96-line parallel digital I/O interface board. The combined board and sup-
plied software installs and runs in any IBM PC-compatible computer that runs the Microsoft
Windows® 95/98/NT operating system (Pentium®-series processor recommended).
The PIO-96 board is built around four industry-standard Intel 8255, 24-bit, programmable
peripheral interface (PPI) adapter chips. Each 8255 includes the three TTL/CMOS-compatible
digital I/O ports PA, PB, and PC. The PA and PB ports are byte-wide (8 bits) and configurable as
inputs or outputs. The PC port is also byte-wide but can be divided into two separate 4-bit ports:
PC lower and PC upper (each of which can be set up as either inputs or outputs). The PIO-96
supports the full set of operating configurations of the 8255 PPI as set by its Control Register.
On power-up, or whenever the computer’s hardware-reset line is asserted, all ports are cleared
and set in a digital-input mode.
The PIO-96 uses 16 consecutive I/O addresses within the computer I/O address space (four
addresses for each 8255 chip). The base address of the PIO-96 board is set by a base address
switch. More than one PIO-96 may be installed in a single computer. However, each installed
PIO-96 uses 16 I/O addresses (base address +0 through base address +15), and no two boards
can use the same address.
The PIO-96 also includes a wait-state generator that insures a 300ns I/O cycle time, minimum,
as required by the 8255. If your computer does not require the wait-state generator, it can be dis-
abled by setting the wait-state jumper to the OFF position.
The computer power supplies provide +5V power through the I/O connectors for use in external
applications, such as the addition of pull-up resistors. The +5V supply may also be used to
power external accessories, as long as you observe the total-available-power limits of your com-
puter and ensure that each connector pin current is limited to less than 1A.

NOTE Do not connect the +5V outputs to an external +5V supply.

I/O connections for each 8255 port use a 50-pin, 0.1-inch header connector. This configuration
assures maximum shielding and minimum cross-talk by placing a ground wire in the cable
between each I/O conductor. The mating connector socket is the 3M 3425-6050 (one required
for each 24-bit port), or you may purchase a ready made 24-inch cable with connectors on both
ends as Keithley part number CACC-2000. Longer cables are available by specifying Part #
CACC-20NN, where NN is the number of feet added to the standard two-foot cable. Wiring
accessories are also available.
General areas of application for the PIO-96 include all parallel-digital I/O requirements, such as
communicating with peripherals, operating relays, reading switch inputs, etc.
PIO-96 User’s Manual General Description 1-3

Supporting software
DriverLINX software is supplied by Keithley with the PIO-96 board. DriverLINX provides con-
venient interfaces to configure and set I/O bits without register-level programming.
Most importantly, however, DriverLINX supports those programmers who wish to create cus-
tom applications using Visual C/C++, Visual Basic, or Delphi. DriverLINX accomplishes fore-
ground and background tasks to perform data acquisition. The software includes memory and
data buffer management, event triggering, extensive error checking, and context sensitive online
help.
More specifically, DriverLINX provides application developers a standardized interface to over
100 services for creating foreground and background tasks for the following:
• Analog input and output
• Digital input and output
• Time and frequency measurement
• Event counting
• Pulse output
• Period measurement
In addition to basic I/O support, DriverLINX also provides:
• Built-in capabilities to handle memory and data buffer management
• A selection of starting and stopping trigger events, including pre-triggering, mid-
point triggering and post-triggering protocols
• Extensive error checking
• Context-sensitive on-line help system
DriverLINX is essentially hardware independent, because its portable APIs work across various
operating systems. This capability eliminates unnecessary programming when changing operat-
ing system platforms.
1-4 General Description PIO-96 User’s Manual
 2
Installation
2-2 Installation PIO-96 User’s Manual

This section contains the following procedures, in the order in which they are to be performed:
• Inventorying installation resources
• Installing the DriverLINX software needed to operate your PIO-96 board
• Configuring the installation in software
• Unpacking and inspecting the board, setting the base address of the board, and installing the
board in your computer
• Checking the installation
• Wiring to your external circuits
NOTE Install the DriverLINX software before installing the PIO-96 board.
Otherwise, the device drivers will be more difficult to install.

Inventorying required installation resources

Before installing DriverLINX and the board, do the following:
1. Inventory your PIO-96 board’s configuration settings.
2. Determine the resources your PIO-96 board requires.
3. Inventory your computer’s resources already allocated to other installed devices.
4. Determine whether your computer has sufficient resources for your PIO-96 board.
5. Determine whether your PIO-96 board can use your computer’s free resources.
6. Continue with the next section, “Installing DriverLINX software and documentation.”
NOTE The DriverLINX Installation and Configuration Guide, Section 1,
amplifies the inventory process in checklist items 1-5. (Ignore the rest of
the checklist items for now.) To display this manual from your
DriverLINX PIO Series CD-ROM, open the Windows Explorer, then
double click on X:\Drvlinx4\Docs\Instconf.pdf, where X = the letter of
the CD-ROM drive. Acrobat Reader must already be installed on the
other system. If necessary, you can first install Acrobat Reader directly
from the CD-ROM by double clicking X:\Acrobat\setup.exe.

Installing DriverLINX software and documentation

Even if DriverLINX versions other than the PIO Series version are already installed on your sys-
tem, you must also install the PIO Series DriverLINX version. In the process, some DriverLINX
capabilities shared by all boards may be upgraded (test utilities, for example).
This section discusses installation of drivers, interfaces, and documentation. The component
installation options provided by the DriverLINX setup program are as follows:
• Install Drivers — This required component installs only the files you need for configuring
your hardware and running third-party data-acquisition applications that require
DriverLINX.
• Install Interfaces — This optional component installs the files and example programs that
you will need to develop custom applications for DriverLINX using C/C++, Visual Basic,
and Delphi.
• Install Documentation — This optional component installs electronic documentation for
DriverLINX that you can read, search, and print using the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Install Acrobat — This optional component installs the Adobe Acrobat Reader for the
DriverLINX electronic documentation.
PIO-96 User’s Manual Installation 2-3

Install the DriverLINX software and board as follows:

1. Place the DriverLINX PIO Series CD-ROM in your drive and wait a few seconds. On most
systems, setup starts automatically. If not, run the setup.exe file, found in the root directory
of the CD-ROM.

A DriverLINX Browser Introduction screen appears. Thereafter, the DriverLINX CD Nav-

igator screen appears automatically after waiting a few seconds or after clicking Next.

NOTE On the DriverLINX CD Navigator and other DriverLINX Browser

screens, place the cursor over a menu item to see an explanation. A star
next to a menu item means that it was selected previously.

Before continuing with this installation, Keithley suggests clicking Read

Me First on the DriverLINX CD Navigator and reviewing the brief
information that appears.

2. On the DriverLINX CD Navigator screen, click Install DriverLINX. An Install These

DriverLINX Components screen appears.
3. Click Install Drivers, and then follow the series of on-screen instructions. When done, the
Install These DriverLINX Components screen reappears.
4. If you do not plan to develop custom application software for your PIO-96 board, then skip
to Step 5. If you do plan to develop custom application software, you must install Driver-
LINX interfaces before writing the software. Install them now by clicking Install Inter-
faces and following the series of on-screen instructions. When done, the Install These
DriverLINX Components screen reappears.
5. Click Install Documentation and follow the series of on-screen instructions. This step
installs the manuals. When done, the Install These DriverLINX Components screen reap-
pears.
6. If Acrobat Reader is not already installed on your system, install it now. You need Acrobat
Reader to read the manuals, a section of which you must access in step 9. Click on Install
Acrobat and follow the series of on-screen instructions. When done, the Install These
DriverLINX Components screen reappears.
7. Click Exit. Then, on the screen that appears saying “Thank you for using DriverLINX,”
click Done. The System Settings Changed dialog box appears.
8. On the System Settings Changed dialog box, click No. (The system will be rebooted and
configured later under “Configuring your installation” on page 2-4.) The screen returns to
the Windows desktop.
9. Print out one section of a DriverLINX manual that you will briefly review later during sys-
tem configuration. Proceed as follows:
a. In the Start menu under Programs → DriverLINX, click On-line Manuals. A menu
document appears
b. In the menu document, scroll until you find the major category Configuration.
c. Under Configuration click Hardware References. A list of documents appears.
d. In the list of documents, click Keithley PIO Series. Acrobat Reader opens and the
manual entitled Using DriverLINX with Your Hardware—Keithley PIO Series appears.
2-4 Installation PIO-96 User’s Manual

e. Print the following section from the Using DriverLINX with Your Hardware—Keithley
PIO Series manual: “Configuring the PIO Series.”

NOTE If your data acquisition system is not connected to a printer, you can dis-
play and print the Using DriverLINX with Your Hardware—Keithley
PIO Series manual sections from another system, directly from the CD-
ROM (without installing anything). To display the manual, open the
Windows Explorer, then double click on X:\Drvlinx4\Docs\Notes\kmb-
pio.pdf, where X = the letter of the CD-ROM drive. Acrobat Reader
must already be installed on the other system. If necessary, you can first
install Acrobat Reader directly from the CD-ROM by double clicking
X:\Acrobat\setup.exe.

10. Continue with “Configuring your installation.”

Configuring your installation

Configure your installation as follows:
1. Locate and briefly review the DriverLINX manual section, “Configuring the PIO Series,”
that you printed earlier during step 9 of “Installing DriverLINX software and documenta-
tion.” Reviewing this section will help prepare you to input information and select options
when configuring your installation.

NOTE Be sure to note and follow all configuration differences between installa-
tions for Windows NT and Windows 95/98.

2. Reboot your computer. The DriverLINX Plug and Play Wizard appears on your screen
automatically at the end of the boot cycle.

NOTE If you do not run the DriverLINX Plug and Play Wizard now, it will not
reappear during the current computer session, although it may appear
after a subsequent reboot. If you wish to configure your board sometime
later, you can start the Plug and Play Wizard manually from a batch file.
In the Windows Explorer, double click X:\Drvlinx4\Help\kmbpio.bat,
where X is the letter of the drive on which DriverLINX is installed.

3. On the Plug and Play Wizard, click Wizard and follow the series of on-screen instructions
that appear. The Wizard will lead you through the steps of installing your hardware—from
a software viewpoint—and configuring it.

NOTE If your operating system is Windows NT, use Windows NT Diagnostics to

find the free resources that the Plug and Play Wizard asks you to assign.
However, if your board requires an interrupt, to reliably find a free ISA
interrupt you may need to 1) configure your computer as having as a
non-Plug and Play operating system, using BIOS setup, and then 2)
individually assign the interrupt to the ISA bus.

4. Continue with “Preparing and installing your board.”

PIO-96 User’s Manual Installation 2-5

Preparing and installing your board

CAUTION Ensure that the computer is turned OFF before installing or remov-
ing a board. Installing or removing a board while power is ON can
damage your computer, the board, or both.
Handle the board in a static-controlled workstation; wear a
grounded wrist strap. Discharge static voltage differences between
the wrapped board and the handling environment before removing
the board from its protective wrapper. Failure to discharge static
electricity before and during handling may damage semiconductor
circuits on the board.
Handle the board using the mounting bracket. Do not touch the cir-
cuit traces or connector contacts when handling the board.

Unpacking and inspecting the board

After you unpack the board from its outer shipping material, do the following:
1. Remove the item from its packing material while keeping one hand firmly on a metal por-
tion of the system chassis. This prevents any damage to the board components from static-
electric build-up.
2. After allowing a moment for static electricity discharge, carefully unwrap the board from
its anti-static material.
3. Inspect the board for any possible damage. Report any sign of damage to the shipper and
the manufacturer.
Confirm that each item on the packing list has been shipped. It is a good idea to retain the pack-
ing material in the event that the board must be returned to the factory for repair.
Continue with the next procedure, “Setting the base address switch.”

Setting the base address switch

The PIO-96 contains a DIP switch that must be set prior to installing the board in the computer.
This switch selects the board’s base address from the computer’s available I/O addresses. The
PIO-96 uses a block of 16 non-overlapping I/O addresses, and the base address switch selects
where in the computer’s I/O space the board resides. Base addresses must be assigned within the
range of 100h to 3FFh (512 to 1023 decimal).
The default base address setting is 300h. If 300h was also assigned to the board when you ran
the DriverLINX Plug and Play Wizard, you do not need to reset the address switch. Otherwise,
reset the base address switch to conform to the base address assigned when you ran the Wizard.
The base-address 6-position DIP switch is located in the lower right-hand corner of the board.
To make a base address setting, use a pen-tip to move the individual switches to their ON or OFF
position.

NOTE When setting the base address switch, use the switch numbers that have
been silk-screened on the board, and ignore any numbers that may be on
the switch itself.
2-6 Installation PIO-96 User’s Manual

For example, to set a base address of 300h (768 decimal), move switches 9 and 8 into the OFF
position while leaving all other switches in the ON position. Figure 2-1 shows the PIO-96 base
address switch and the address values corresponding to each of the seven poles. Figure 2-2
shows the board location of the base address switch.
Set the base address now. When you have finished setting the base address, continue with
“Setting the wait-state jumper.”

Figure 2-1
Base address switch values

200

100
Hexadecimal Value

80

40

20

10
512

256

128
Decimal Value

64

32

16
Computer A9

A8

A7

A6

A5

A4
Address Line

O Switch settings indicate a base

N address of:
512 + 256 = 768 Decimal
or
1 2 3 4 5 6 200h + 100h = 300h

Figure 2-2
Board component locations

Setting the wait-state jumper

The wait-state PIO-96 generator insures a 300ns I/O cycle time, minimum, as required by the
8255. If your computer does not require the wait-state generator, it can be disabled by setting the
board’s wait-state jumper to the OFF position.
The PIO-96 is shipped with the wait-state generator disabled (jumper block set on the two pins
farthest from the base address switch). To enable the wait-state generator, place the jumper on
the two pins closest to the base address switch.
Continue with the next procedure, “Connecting cables to the board.”
PIO-96 User’s Manual Installation 2-7

Connecting cables to the board

NOTE Do not yet connect the cables to any external circuits. Wiring to external
circuits should be done after the procedures under “Checking your
installation.”

Each 24-bit port on the PIO-96 uses a 50-pin connector as an interface to data acquisition sig-
nals. This connector is compatible with the manufacturer’s CACC-2000 series of cables. How-
ever, please note that the standard CACC-2000 cable is only 18 inches long. Since the connector,
and up to 14 inches of the I/O cable (worst case) will be inside the computer, the standard
CACC-2000 cable may be inadequate. However, longer cables are available. Simply order a
CACC-20NN, where NN is the additional number of feet (beyond the standard 18 inches) that
you desire.
Alternatively, you can make custom cables for specific purposes. The mating connector is 3M
type 3425-6050. One is required for each 24-bit port.
Before installing the board and before connecting any external circuits, install all cables that you
intend to use, as follows:
1. Make sure that your wrist strap is on and grounded. (You should use a grounded wrist
strap. However, if you don’t have a wrist strap, touch any metallic part of the computer
cabinet with one hand before holding the board in the other hand. This will safely dis-
charge any static electricity that has built-up in your body.)
2. Connect all the CACC-2000 Series cables needed to interface to your external circuits to
connectors J1 through J4 on the board. See Figure 2-2 for locations of these connectors.
3. Continue with the next procedure, “Installing the board.”

Installing the board

This section provides general instructions for installing the PIO-96 board. For additional infor-
mation on installing peripheral boards, consult the documentation provided with your computer.

CAUTION Do not attempt to insert or remove any adapter board with the com-
puter power ON. This could cause damage to your computer.

To install the PIO-96 board, do the following:

1. Turn OFF power to the computer and all attached options.
2. Unplug the power cords of all attached options from the electrical outlets. Make a note of
where all the cables and cords are attached to the rear of the system unit and disconnect.
Failure to disconnect all external cables from the computer can result in a hazardous condi-
tion, since dangerous voltage levels may be present on externally connected cables, even
though the computer is turned OFF.
3. Remove the cover of the computer.
4. Choose an available option slot. Make sure that there is an additional empty slot to its right.
Loosen and remove the screw at the top of the blank adapter plate. Then slide the plate up
and out to remove.
5. Make sure that your wrist strap is on and grounded. (You should use a grounded wrist
strap. However, if you don’t have a wrist strap, touch any metallic part of the computer
cabinet with one hand before holding the board in the other hand. This will safely dis-
charge any static electricity that has built-up in your body.)
6. Check that you have set the desired base address.
2-8 Installation PIO-96 User’s Manual

7. Feed the cables through the rear of the computer at the slot where the PIO-96 will be
installed.
8. Align the gold edge connector with the edge socket and the back adapter place with the
adapter plate screw. Gently press the board downward into the socket. Reinstall the adapter
plate screw.
9. Replace the computer cover.
10. Continue with the procedures in “Checking your installation.”

Checking your installation

The ability to start the DriverLINX PIO Control Panel utility, which is available after you install
DriverLINX, verifies that DriverLINX and the board are installed and configured satisfactorily.
You can also test the functions of the PIO-96 board, without needing to write an application pro-
gram, by connecting appropriate digital signals and observing the responses with the Driver-
LINX PIO Control Panel. Before connecting signals, first read the following wiring information.
To access the PIO Control Panel, do the following:
1. Click the Windows 95/98/NT Start tab.
2. In the Start menu, click Programs.
3. Find the DriverLINX → Test Panels entry, under which you should find the PIO
Panel entry.
4. Click on the PIO Panel entry. The PIO Control Panel should appear.
5. After you configure and check your installation, continue with the next section, “Wiring to
external circuits.”

NOTE Refer also to the DriverLINX Installation and Configuration Guide and
Using DriverLINX with Your Hardware—Keithley PIO Series manuals.

Wiring to external circuits

CAUTION Make sure power both to the board and to all external circuits is
turned OFF before connecting cables and eternal wiring to your
board. Making connections while the board and/or external circuits
are powered can damage the board, the external circuits, the com-
puter, or all three.

Each 24-bit port on the PIO-96 uses a 50-pin connector as an interface to user circuits. This
connector is compatible with the Keithley CACC-2000 Series cables (or with custom cables
made using a 3M 3425-6050 mating connector) One or more of these should be connected to the
board at this point in your installation. The following subsections describe using a screw
terminal wiring accessory, identifying I/O connector pin numbers, and using board power for
external circuits.
PIO-96 User’s Manual Installation 2-9

Identifying I/O connector pin numbers

All connections to the PIO-96 are made through four identical 50-pin plugs located along the top
edge of the board. Before wiring cables and/or screw terminal accessories to external circuits,
review the pin assignments of the I/O connectors, as shown in Figure 2-3.

Figure 2-3
Pin assignments for a PIO-96 I/O connector and corresponding
terminal assignments for a connected STA-50 accessory

PA7 01 02
PA6 03 04
PA5 05 06
PA4 07 08
PA3 09 10
PA2 11 12
PA1 13 14
PA0 15 16
PC7 17 18
PC6 19 20
PC5 21 22
PC4 23 24
PC3 25 26
PC2 27 28
PC1 29 30
PC0 31 32
PB7 33 34
PB6 35 36
PB5 37 38
PB4 39 40
PB3 41 42
PB2 43 44
PB1 45 46
PB0 47 48
49 50

+5V Signal Ground

Mating connector is part number 3M 3425-6050

Using a screw terminal accessory

An STA-50 screw terminal accessory directly connects a screw terminal to each pin of a PIO-96
I/O connector, via a CACC-200 Series cable. (Therefore the numbers of an STA-50 screw termi-
nal accessory match the pin numbers of a PIO-96 I/O 50-pin connector. See Figure 2-3 above.) It
also provides a circuit breadboarding area and a second connector that is wired pin-to-pin to the
first connector.
If you require screw terminals, rather than simple cable connections, connect an STA-50 screw
terminal accessory to the free end of each CACC-2000 Series cable that you connected to the
board in “Connecting cables to the board.” (Each port on the PIO-96 requires a separate
STA-50.)
2-10 Installation PIO-96 User’s Manual

Wiring PIO-96 power to external circuits

External power from the computer’s internal supply is available on the PIO-96 connector. This
power is convenient to use for common board applications. However, Keithley recommends that
you do not use the computer power unless you are confident that you can safely meet the follow-
ing conditions.
• There must be no short circuits, overloads, or application of external voltages. All of these
conditions may damage the computer system board and result in costly repairs. The com-
puter power supply is designed to shutdown on a short circuit, but you should not rely on this
characteristic.
• The amount of power drawn must be consistent with the capacity of the computer power
supply and its internal loads (see your computer’s technical reference manual). Due to com-
puter board connector and trace-width limitations, the manufacturer recommends that you
limit power draw to 1 ampere regardless of power supply capabilities.
In situations where the PIO-96 is used with a dedicated peripheral (for example, a switch pad)
and the cabling and design loads are fixed, it may make economic sense to use the PIO-96 power
outputs. In most other cases, it is advisable to power external devices from their own supplies.
 3
Programming
3-2 Programming PIO-96 User’s Manual

You do not program the registers of your PIO-96 board directly through Windows 95/98/NT.
Instead, you program register changes through the application programming interface (API) of
DriverLINX. DriverLINX is provided on the CD-ROM that comes with your board and should
now be installed on your system. (Refer to “Installation” on page 2-1.) Using DriverLINX, you
can program the board in Visual C/C++, Visual Basic, and Delphi.
DriverLINX features are summarized under “Supporting software” on page 1-3. For detailed
information about DriverLINX in general and about programming with DriverLINX specifi-
cally, refer to your DriverLINX documentation.

NOTE To access the DriverLINX documents on-line, Acrobat Reader (version

3.0 or greater) must be installed on your computer.

To access the DriverLINX documentation after you have installed it on your computer, do the
following:
1. Click the Windows 95/98/NT Start tab.
2. In the Start menu, click Programs.
3. Find the DriverLINX entry, under which you will find the On-line Manuals entry.
4. Click on the On-line Manuals entry. The DriverLINX Printable Documentation table of
contents opens via Acrobat Reader.
5. Scroll through the DriverLINX Printable Documentation table of contents and find the
document or document category that you want.
6. Click on the desired document or document category. Either the selected document appears
or a list of documents that fit the selected category appears.
7. If a list appears, click on the title of the document that you want. The desired document
appears.
To access the DriverLINX documentation from the CD-ROM that came with your board, do the
following:
1. In Windows Explorer, double click on X:\Drvlinx4\Docs\Toc.pdf, where X is the drive let-
ter of your CD-ROM drive. The DriverLINX Printable Documentation table of contents
opens via Acrobat Reader.
2. Scroll through the DriverLINX Printable Documentation table of contents and find the
document or document category that you want.
3. Click on the desired document or document category. Either the selected document appears
or a list of documents that fit the selected category appears.
4. If a list appears, click on the title of the document that you want. The desired document
appears.
 A
Specifications
A-2 Specifications PIO-96 User’s Manual

Logic inputs and outputs

Min. Max.
Input logic low voltage -0.5 +0.8V
Input logic high voltage 2.0 5.0V
Input load current PA, PB, & PC ports (0 < Vin < 5v) -10 +10µA
Input low current interrupt inputs - -0.4mA
Input high current interrupt inputs - 20µA
Output low voltage PA, PB & PC ports (Isink = 1.7mA) - 0.45V
Output high voltage PA, PB & PC ports 2.4V -
Output source current PB & PC ports only (Vout = 1.5V, 8 outputs max.) -1.0 -4.0mA

Power consumption
+5V 1.6 Amp max. plus any external load
+12V Not used
-12V Not used

Mechanical and environmental

Operating Temperature Range 0 to 50˚C
Storage Temperature Range -20 to +70˚C
Humidity 0-90% noncondensing
Weight 7oz (210gm)
 B
I/O Address Map
B-2 I/O Address Map PIO-96 User’s Manual

Address offsets 0-3, 4-7, 8-11, and 12-15 correspond to the four 8255 PPI chips, each of which
has four ports: three I/O ports and one control port. Each of the 8255 chips acts identically and
independently. (For a full description of the many capabilities of the 8255 chip, refer to the data
sheet of Intel or other 8255 chip manufacturer.)
All the operating modes of the 8255 are supported identically on the PIO-96. However, the
majority of users are likely to operate the 8255 in the simple basic input/output mode (also
called Mode 0 operation). Therefore, only Mode 0 is emphasized here. If you wish to operate the
8255 in Mode 1 (strobed input/output) or Mode 2 (bidirectional bus) configurations, refer to the
8255 data sheet.

NOTE On power up or whenever the computer RESET line is asserted, all I/O
ports of the 8255 are initially set as inputs.
Also, a write to the control register at base address +3 (or +7, +11, or
+15) clears all output ports.

The 16 locations in I/O address space are allocated as shown in Table B-1.

Table B-1
I/O address map

Bits Location Function Type

0-23 Base address +0 8255 PA Port Read/Write
Base address +1 8255 PB Port Read/Write
Base address +2 8255 PC Port Read/Write
Base address +3 8255 Control Write Only
24-47 Base address +4 8255 PA Port Read/Write
Base address +5 8255 PB Port Read/Write
Base address +6 8255 PC Port Read/Write
Base address +7 8255 Control Write Only
Base address +8 8255 PA Port Read/Write
48-71 Base address +9 8255 PB Port Read/Write
Base address +10 8255 PC Port Read/Write
Base address +11 8255 Control Write Only
Base address +12 8255 PA Port Read/Write
72-95 Base address +13 8255 PB Port Read/Write
Base address +14 8255 PC Port Read/Write
Base address +15 8255 Control Write Only

Note that the PIO-96 requires a full block of sixteen I/O addresses. For correct operation, other
adapters must not conflict with any I/O address within this range, even if the upper ports of your
PIO-96 will not be used.
PIO-96 User’s Manual I/O Address Map B-3

Data ports
The PA and PB ports of the 8255 chip are byte-wide, and the direction of all lines within a port
is set by the control register. The PC Port of the 8255 chip may also be used as a byte-wide port
or split into two ports of four bits (nibble-wide). The PC0 to PC3 lines are known as the PC-
lower port and the PC4 to PC7 lines are known as the PC-upper port. The directions of the PC-
upper and PC-lower ports are independently programmable. In modes 1 and 2 of PPI operation,
the PC port assumes the role of a control or “handshaking” port and many of its lines assume
fixed functions. However, in Mode 0 (basic input/output), the PC lines behave exactly as the PA
and PB ports so that you have three independent 8 bit ports for a total of 24 digital I/O lines.
There are slight electrical differences between the ports. Although all three ports are TTL/
CMOS-compatible, the PB and PC Ports are designed also to source current as high as 1mA at
1.5V for driving resistive loads or Darlington type power transistors, etc. The PA port does not
have this capability. For dissipation reasons, no more than eight outputs total should be used in
current sourcing applications. The port descriptions for each 8255 chip are as follows:
• Port A - Consists of one 8 bit data output latch/buffer and one 8 bit data input latch.
• Port B - Consists of one 8-bit data input/output latch/buffer and one 8-bit data input buffer.
• Port C - Consists of one 8-bit data output latch/buffer and one 8-bit data input buffer (no
latch for input). This port can be divided into two 4 bit ports under the mode control. Each 4
bit port contains a 4 bit latch and it can be used for the control signal outputs and status sig-
nal inputs in conjunction with ports A & B (modes 1 & 2).]

Control port
The control port bits on each 8255 chip are used as shown in Table B-2.

Table B-2
Control register bit functions for each 8255 chip

I/O status for this bit1

Control Bit
group number Function When bit value = 0 When bit value = 1
Bit 7 Mode set flag Inactive Active
A Bit 6 Mode selections for the PA When bit 6 = 0 AND bit 5 = 0: Mode 0
and the PC-upper ports When bit 6 = 0 AND bit 5 = 1: Mode 1
Bit 5
When bit 6 = 1 AND bit 5 = 0: Mode 2
When bit 6 = 1 AND bit 5 = 1: Mode 2
Bit 4 I/O direction for the PA port Outputs, all bits of Inputs, all bits of
this port. this port.
Bit 3 I/O direction to the PC-upper Outputs, all bits of Inputs, all bits of
port this port. this port.
B Bit 2 Mode selections for the PB Mode 0 Mode 1
and the PC-lower ports
Bit 1 I/O direction for PB port Outputs, all bits of Inputs, all bits of
this port. this port.
Bit 0 I/O direction for the Outputs, all bits of Inputs, all bits of
PC-lower port this port. this port.
1For safety, the values of bits 0, 1, 3, and 4 default to “1” upon computer power-up or reset, so that all ports start out as

inputs.
B-4 I/O Address Map PIO-96 User’s Manual

Table B-3 shows example control-byte codes for Mode 0.

Table B-3
Example control bytes for mode 0

Control byte (hexadecimal) Configuration

80 PA, PB & PC all outputs
81 PA, PB, PC-upper outputs, PC-lower input
82 PA & PC outputs, PB input
8B PA output, PB & PC inputs
9B PA, PB & PC all inputs
Etc.... (there are 15 combinations in Mode 0)

When a port is configured as an output, the data that the port outputs can be returned by reading
the same location. However, this may not reflect the actual state of the output lines if one or
more is shorted. The state of the output latch is being read, not the buffered output lines.
 C
User-Serviceable Parts
C-2 User-Serviceable Parts PIO-96 User’s Manual

The four 8255 PPI components are in sockets. If any of the digital I/O chips are damaged by
external shorts or transients, replacing the appropriate chip may correct the problem. The 8255
chips on the PIO-96 board should be replaced with an Intel P8255A-5 chip or equivalent part
from another manufacturer. Nothing more than a screwdriver is needed to make these repairs.
 Index
Numerics Connector
board
8255 chip pin assignments 2-9
address map B-2 mating 2-7
description 1-2 Connector, board 2-7
Connectors
A summary 1-2

Addresses
map B-2
D
summary 1-2 Documentation, DriverLINX
Assignments, pin, board connector 2-9 accessing 2-3, 3-2
Assignments, terminal, for STA-50 2-9 installing 2-2
Documentation, this manual, installing 2-2
B DriverLINX
configuring 2-4
Baord description 1-3
installing 2-7 documentation, accessing 2-3, 3-2
Base address switch documentation, installing 2-2
location 2-6 installing 2-2
setting 2-5 programming 3-1
Board
description 1-2
grounding during handling to protect 2-5
G
handling 2-5, 2-8 Grounding
unpacking and inspecting 2-5 to protect board 2-8
Board connector 2-7 Grounding, during board handling 2-5

C I
Cables I/O connector
connecting 2-7 pin assignments 2-9
CACC-2000 cable connecting 2-7 Inspecting the board 2-5
Checking the installation 2-8 Installation
Computer resources checking 2-8
determination for installation 2-2 configuring 2-4
Configuring resource inventory 2-2
DriverLINX 2-4
installation 2-4

i-1
 Installing
board 2-7
S
documentation 2-2 Screw terminal accessory
software, DriverLINX 2-2 using 2-9
Interfaces Settings
installing for applications 2-2 base address switch 2-5
wait-state jumper 2-6
M Software, DriverLINX
description 1-3
Manuals, DriverLINX installing 2-2
accessing 2-3, 3-2 programming 3-1
installing 2-2 STA-50
Map terminal assignments 2-9
address B-2 using 2-9
Map, register B-1
Mating connector 2-7
U
P Unpacking the board 2-5

PIO Control Panel

checking installation with 2-8
W
starting 2-8 Wait-state generator
Port group jumper setting 2-6
control register bit functions B-3 summary 1-2
Power supply Wiring
summary 1-2 general information 2-8
Precautions, installation power 2-10
board 2-5
DriverLINX before board 2-2
Programming
DriverLINX 3-1
overview 1-3
programming
registers 3-1

R
Registers
control registers
bit functions B-3
map B-1
programming 3-1
Resources, installation, inventory 2-2

i-2
This page intentionally left blank.
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
Printed in the U.S.A.